View looking south at carvings and stains in the Kalikatsou Rock. Many believe that a Temple to Aphrodite was located here but no excavations have taken place. Note the stairs and the carvings to the right of the stairs.

View looking northwest at the large freshwater pool of En Nun. This pool collects water from the springs that are located to the west of it. It was apparently used for irrigation as far back as the Roman (= New Testament) Period. It is possible that water was used in the fields north of Magdala. Or, maybe it was used by another city that was located to the north of Magdala (Dalmanutha?? Mark 8:10).

View looking east at the market of Magdala. In the shops pottery, woven goods, and fresh produce were sold. In several of the shops there were plastered pools designed to hold fresh fish. These pools had access to fresh underground water.

View looking west at the Elite Residence that is located south of the Synagogue. The roof on the left (south) covers a floor mosaic and to the right of that are two of the three ritual baths. The covering stones of a water channel are visible under the street. To the right (north) of the street is another cistern and a basalt floor.

View of the ritual bath that is part of an elite house that is located south of the synagogue at Magdala. Hewn stair lead down into the water. The bath still contains water—actually a spring in the area still supplies the bath with water.

View of one of the three ritual baths that are part of an elite house that is located south of the synagogue at Magdala. Hewn stairs lead down into the water. The bath still contains water—actually a spring in the area still supplies the bath with water.

View looking east at a portion of the foundation walls of an elite residence that is located south of the synagogue. In the center of the image is a doorway and below it to the left are hewn steps that lead down into a miqveh (ritual bath). The thickness of the walls indicates that there was more than one story to the house. There is a mosaic under the permanent covering—that is still covered for protection.

View looking northeast at the "Dome of the Prophet" (= Qubbat al–Nabi). This is a single person prayer area built in 1539 "to mark the site where Muhammad led the prophets in prayer before his ascension into Heaven."

The large umbrellas in the background shaded worshipers during Friday Prayers during the month of Ramadan.

View looking northeast at the "Dome of the Prophet" (= Qubbat al–Nabi). This is a single person prayer area built in 1539 "to mark the site where Muhammad led the prophets in prayer before his ascension into Heaven."

The large umbrellas in the background shaded worshipers during Friday Prayers during the month of Ramadan.

View looking east at a large portion of the excavations at Magdala. On the left (north) is the first century synagogue (covered), in the center the market area, above it the chapel, and to the right (south) an Elite Residence with ritual baths (miqvaoth).

View looking east at the "Boat Chapel." This chapel commemorates Jesus preaching from the boat (Luke 5:1-11). The chapel seats 300 and along the sides of the chapel are pictures of the 12 male disciples of Jesus.

To view details on this Panorama you are invited to download the "Max Available Size."

View looking east at the boat altar in the "Boat Chapel." The boat's design is based upon the 1st century boat that was excavated in 1986 along the shoreline near the chapel. It is made out of cedar wood. The "tabernacle," that contains the elements for the Eucharist, to the right of the mast, was blessed by Pope Francis on May 26, 2014 during his pastoral pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

The glassy floor, the reflecting pool behind the window, and the Sea of Galilee itself give the impression of the boat resting on the sea.

View looking east at the "Women's Atrium" of Duc in Altum. This chapel honors the women who followed and supported Jesus (Luke 8)—especially Mary Magdalene. On seven of the eight columns the names of women mentioned in the Gospels are engraved. The eighth column is not inscribed and represents women of faith through the ages.

View looking north northwest at the entrance to the chapel called "Duc in Altum." This is Latin for the words of Jesus addressed to Peter as recorded in Luke 5:4 where, after preaching from his boat, He tells him to "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

After a large catch, the boat began to sink, Peter and his partners left all behind to follow Jesus—to become "fishers of men' (5:10). The chapel is a call for present day followers of Jesus to become "fishers of men."